Election Wrap - 9 October

Oh c’mon Granny, give us some goss on the Libs!

The video will be up shortly. Judge for yourself.

How did the Libs do?

Well I went along out of duty, and was completely surprised by what a good time I had! One of the features that I haven’t noticed at other forums was the socialising afterwards. We had wine. We had chocolate. We had cheese. We had us! We had a pretty good time actually.

I had chance to meet Mike Hettinger, which I really enjoyed. He kind of had that cool Jimmy Dean ‘rebel without a cause’ thing happening, which I relate to so well! Like my favourtie t-shirt covered in little white sheep with one black one, and a caption: Why me? *chuckle*

I got to talk to Shane Rattenbury a little. I am terrified of the Greens, but I must admit that he and Norvan are the ones that give me that stirring in the soul, that kind of Kennedy Camelot “dream” thing. They’re the ones that talk and I see a picture. I get a vision. I do like that. Actually Shane Rattenbury reminded me a lot of Bobby Kennedy now I think of it.

Highlights of the night were watching Katy’s dummy spit, and Helen Cross and Norvan Vogt having a go at each other!

*guffaw*

I must admit I like Norvan more every time I see him. He is one of the people that I really believe does do it because he cares, and I feel he has walked the walk not just talking the talk as far as his ideals.

He also has a real vision.

Greg Tannahill liked my idea!! That made me very happy. I missed him at the SIM challenge, but he was also quite impressive and very articulate.

I reckon we left the building around 11:30pm still laughing and joking around.

Seriously I have been to several candidate forums now, and if you couldn’t have fun there you’ll just have to wait till personality transplants get invented. In the meantime keep on chucking a big Mrs Jessup, sucking lemons and walking around with a plum in your bottom.

Thanks, Al!

Yes NS “34 in the audience” means that. And it was school holidays – you may have noticed the lack of traffic jams lately?

Politikos: we required an extention if you like of the Robson rotation. On speaker on behalf of each party on each question. And any one individual who had answerred a question couldn’t answer another party question until such time as all the other candidates from that party had a go at answerring something. This did not preclude questions directed straight to individuals.

Katy Gallagher and Helen Cross in particular disagreed with that approach. Care factor. The reality is that when for instance another ALP candidate fielded a health question, she (Adina Cirson) did admirably – good speaker and across the issues in a general sort of way. Vicki Dunne fielded a health question (Jacqui Burke’s portfolio) and did well.

Frank Pangallo, Democrats and CAP allowed their support candidates to take the lead and that showed both good and not-so-good performers. Young Greg Tannahill for the Democrats was a stand-out performer. Both of the majors have held back their support candidates as mainly fillers lurking in the background of photo shoots. As a result the speaking skills of a couple were sadly lacking.

Katy got particularly cheesed off when we wouldn’t let Andrew Barr field a question on the rapidly deteriorating Gold Creek Homestead as he’d already spoken. This demonstrated that she is unaware that the issue is no longer in the planning portfolio but is now in limbo between Community “halls” and Aged Care (Health and Community Services portfolio I believe) and land releases (Stanhope’s balliwick). Either way, as DCM she should have been across the issue and known that. She was quick to snaffle the announcements on what community groups would have access to the old schools, when it was Barr who had to do all the running and take the heat on that.

Apart from all that, some people were fazed by the short responses we required – one and two minutes. I think Shane Rattenbury said it felt like speed dating. I thought of it more as what marketing people call and “elevator pitch”. With 2 dozen candidates to hear from, it made sure it stayed a waffle-free zone.

The important thing was that it was a meet the candidates event, not a listen to the parties session. Everyone got a chance to speak, at least a couple of times, and that was our intention. Those who rolled with it looked OK, those who bucked it not so.

The video has been pulled off the camera and encoded overnight. The upload will take 6-8 hours. With jobs and meetings, it will likely be tomorrow evening before it’s posted.

Meeting conduct aside, issues anyone?

Oh wait, or did you mean that there were 34 in the audience not including the candidates?

Actually that’s much more likely and definitely better numbers. 32 is decent I guess but I still think that’s low for a Meet the Candidates forum.

Gungahlin Al said :

There were 34 in the audience, and I think 24 candidates. I know of one partner and one adviser in the audience, but wasn’t interrogating everyone.

So there were only 8 genuine community members?

Good god, that is a farce! The way GungahlinAl and JR go on about GCC I thought GCC may have actually been relevant in the Gungahlin community and maybe even a significant player (in context of community councils).

I infrequently go to Woden Valley Community Council and I don’t think I’ve ever attended one with such low attendance. Admittedly I didn’t go to their Meet the Candidates night, but whenever they have Ministers along there’s usually atleast 40 people in the room (two thirds of whom would be genuine WVCC members). There was one a few months back with Barr with easily 40+ people.

Gungahlin Al said :

All candidates should have done their homework and got across their party’s policy platforms. It was clear from some of the responses who had and who had not. It was also clear that some are articulate speakers and would likely be able to perform well in the Assembly, and others would struggle. And there were some surprise packages there too.

Could you elaborate, Al? Some of us have lousy internet connections and won’t be able to view the video.

Some of us have jobs D-Man.

Ah well, the video of the full meeting will be posted to our site likely tonight, so people can view and make their own minds up.

To clarify, no-one left part-way through. There were 34 in the audience, and I think 24 candidates. I know of one partner and one adviser in the audience, but wasn’t interrogating everyone. And the greater majority of people stayed around until well afterwards as well, with the last people leaving around 10.30.

We came up with a format to specifically get every single candidate to speak. They want our votes, so we should hear from them, not let them hide behind well-skilled incumbents. There were some cranky faces among some of said incumbents. Tough. All candidates should have done their homework and got across their party’s policy platforms. It was clear from some of the responses who had and who had not. It was also clear that some are articulate speakers and would likely be able to perform well in the Assembly, and others would struggle. And there were some surprise packages there too.

This approach avoided some of the things that have occurred at other candidates outings. For instance, at the Light Rail meeting, Simon Corbell gave all the answers for ALP (even though the transport minister was there and numerous ALP candidates). And candidates were not allowed to ask questions of other candidates, a problem elsewhere.

Anyway, GCC’s a democratic organisation. You sticking your hand up? Nah didn’t think so.

The motorists party… what the hell kind of stupid idea is that?

What exactly went wrong?

Still nothing from the Emperors of Gungahlin on their forum last night i see. Shame. I’m having a crap day and wanted to see them describe what a brilliant success it was…

johnboy said :

politikos said :

I agree they have some patrons who are not well heeled.

But I’ve seen the foyer at intermission time and they would be the exception rather than the rule.

Johnboy, perhaps you’re judging too much by appearances?! You can dress well without spending much money. After all, it costs more to dress in Levis and Nike runners than in a nice dress!

politikos said :

Mulcahy gets points with me for supporting the Symphony. I’m by no means wealthy, but I’ve always loved classical music and know lots of others who do too (who aren’t among the “wealthiest Canberrans”). So much money is given to sport, why not some to what’s left of the arts?!

I agree they have some patrons who are not well heeled.

But I’ve seen the foyer at intermission time and they would be the exception rather than the rule.

Mulcahy gets points with me for supporting the Symphony. I’m by no means wealthy, but I’ve always loved classical music and know lots of others who do too (who aren’t among the “wealthiest Canberrans”). So much money is given to sport, why not some to what’s left of the arts?!

One Nationa on Wheels, now that my friends is 1st class top draw humour. Oh well if quamby is closed they can get the expelled kids to build their bloody drgway. child Labour, works for Nike.

How did you know Zed was excellent if you weren’t there “SwingingVoter”? You may well be the dumbest individual I have ever encountered.

D-Man said :

I’m surprised there’s nothing on the GCC forum last night. It was a complete farce. There were more candidates than crowd members, the format of the evening was utterly bizarre and the moderator was disastrously bad. Again, once you exclude spouses, apparatchiks and political groupies, there was a total of 8 genuine residents there. My colleague reckons there was only 4, but it’s possible some left half way. God I wish I had been able to. GCC are a laughing stock after last night.

A friend of mine attended and said it was a disgrace.

Re my post yesterday of the Libs trotting out Belinda Barnier as their Green Candidate, it happened last night at GCC – Zed was directing the questions asked to certain candidates and guess what Belinda got the Greenie question re animals and wildlife corridors from my friend from an animal liberation group. I suspect more will come as their spin doctors get onto it.

As usual Zed was excellent.

*Jake sits back and waits for Jonathon Reynolds and Gungahlin Al to read D-Mans post*

Hilarity surely will ensue.

I’m surprised there’s nothing on the GCC forum last night. It was a complete farce. There were more candidates than crowd members, the format of the evening was utterly bizarre and the moderator was disastrously bad. Again, once you exclude spouses, apparatchiks and political groupies, there was a total of 8 genuine residents there. My colleague reckons there was only 4, but it’s possible some left half way. God I wish I had been able to. GCC are a laughing stock after last night.